Portable headrest



Aug. 15, 1961 c. T. KINSMAN PORTABLE HEADREST 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed001.. 19, 1959 CAL w/v 7' K/NsMA/v INVENTOR 4% fifl l ATTORNEY) Aug. 15,1961 c. T. KINSMAN PORTABLE HEADREST 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 19,1959 INVENTOR ewii ATTORNEY BYf 2,996,333 PORTABLE HEADREST CalvinTheodore Kinsman, 5855 SW. 73rd St., South Miami, Fla. Filed Oct. 19,1959, Ser. No. 847,350 Claims. (Cl. 297-399) This invention relates toportable head rests. An example of the use of such head rests is as aremovable device for support upon the back of a seat, as an automobileseat, for increasing the height of the back so that the back of the headof an occupant rests against the device.

An important object of the invention is to provide a portable, readilyknocked down head rest, whereby the head rests may be folded intocompact, relatively flat articles for transportation, storing, disposalin stacks and handling, and may be set up for use within a few momentsof time.

Another important object is to provide a particularly light-weight headrest which is easily handled. For example, the entire head rest mayweight between six ounces and one-half pound.

Still another important object is to provide a head rest which isconstructed of inexpensive material, may be readily stamped, die cut orotherwise formed from a sheet of such material and set up without theuse of screws, nails, bolts and the like, or set up without the use oftools.

An additional important object is to provide a head rest which may beprinted, stencilled or otherwise provided with advertising and/ or otherindicia.

Furthermore, an important object is to provide a head rest which may becorrectly set up or knocked down without requiring detailed or intricateinstructions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description of the invention, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, forming portions of thedisclosure and in which drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of the inventiondisposed upon a seat back and in use.

FIGURE 2 is atop plan view of the head rest of FIG- URE 1 removed from aseat back.

FIGURE 3 is a collapsed or knocked down plan view of the head rest.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of another form of the head rest.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the head rest of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view through the head rest of FIGURES 4and 5, disposed upon a seat back and in use.

FIGURE 7 is a collapsed or knocked down plan view of the head rest ofFIGURES 4, 5 and 6.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown twoforms of the invention and wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter Adesignates the head rest of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3; B, a seat back; C, userof the head rest; D, the head rest of FIGURES 4 to 7 inclusive; E, aseat back; and F, the user of the head rest D.

The head rests A and D each preferably comprise a single sheet ofreadily stamped or die cut material which may be scored, as cardboard,the laminated corrugated paper board commonly known as jute on juteboard and like stiffened, self-sustaining fibrous materials, providedwith fold or score lines, including curved fold lines to fit the back ofthe head of the user, tongues and slots cooperating therewith to form asubstantially horizontal support, in the form of bridge means, for thehead rest 2,996,333 Patented Aug. 15, 1961 2 in contact with the topportion of the back of a vehicle seat, while other portions of the headrest extend over both the front and back portions of the back of theseat.

The head rest A comprises the sheet 10 best shown in FIGURE 3, providedwith opposite side edges 11 and opposite end edges 12 and 13, and twospaced-apart tongue-receiving transverse slots 14 and 15, spaced fromthe end edge 12, extending toward the side edges 11 and relativelyremote from the end edge 13. Extending in substantial parallelism fromthis end edge 13, and also paralleling and spaced from the side edges11, are two longitudinal slots 16 which divide the sheet area, adjacentthis last-named end edge 13, into three portions, i.e., two head restleg portions 17 and a tongue portion 18 disposed between the portions17, and which forms a bridge.

Spaced inwardly from the end edge 12 is a curved score or fold line 19and a curved score or fold line 20 which extend transversely of thesheet, preferably in arcuate curves, toward each other so that they arespaced apart their least distance at the longitudinal medial line of thesheet.

At the base of the tongue portion 18, there is a score or fold line 21so that the tongue may be folded over thereon.

Preferably, the disposition of the score or fold line 19 with relationto the end edge 12 is such that there is a relatively large area orsheet portion 22 and a smaller area or sheet portion 23 of the sheet forreceiving indicia, if desired, as at 24 and 25 respectively, and betweenthe score or fold lines 20 and 21 is an area or sheet portion 26 toreceive indicia 27, if desired. The portions 22 and 23 jointlyconstitute the front portion of the head rest, and is contacted by theback of the user of the device.

In setting up the head rest A, the sheet 10, which is preferably of aheavy grade of laminated corrugated paper board, is folded along thescore or fold lines. 19 and 20 to form a somewhat inverted V-shape, andthe tongue 18 is folded upon the score or fold line 21 and partlythreaded into the slot 14, whereupon the partly completed head rest ismounted upon the seat back B with the portions 17 extending over and incontact with the back of the seat back B, and the sheet portion 22extending over and in contact with the front of the seat back. This willcause the tongue to adjust itself with relation to the slot 14, so thatthe portion of the tongue 18 now in contact with the top edge of theseat back will provide bridge means between the leg portions 17 and thefront portion and the remainder of the tongue may now be folded upwardlyand threaded through the slot 15, and be again folded at 28 (inFIGURE 1) and the free end portion of the tongue permitted to occupy thespace above the bridge, substantially as may be seen in FIGURE 1. Whilethere is a slight bulging of the tongue, as at 29 in FIGURE 1 on theouter forward face of the head rest, it will be noted that this bulgecomes, in the case of the average person, to the rear of and spaced fromthe neck of the user of the head rest'and will not interfere with thecomfortable use of the head rest. The back of the user of the head restwill bear upon the portion 22, which will conform to the curves of theback of the user, substantially as shown in FIGURE 1, and the usershead, where it contacts the head rest, will be at the curved line 19,for comfort. As the head rest yields slightly, the head of the user willcause the head rest portion 22 to move more or less backwards whichtends to lock the tongue 18 more firmly in place. After use, the tongue18 is withdrawn from the slots 14 and 15 and the sheet folded on thescore lines 19 and 20 to form a relatively flat article for storage,carriage and the like.

The two curved fold or score lines 19 and 2t), positioned as they are asbest shown in FIGURE 2, tend to strengthen the head resting portion ofthe device and prevent this portion from collapsing with the weight ofthe head.

Referring now to the head rest D, of FIGURES 4 m7 inclusive, the samecomprises the sheet 30, best shown in FIGURE 7, provided with oppositeside edges 31 and a opposite end edges 32 and 33, and two spaced aparttongues-receiving slots 34 and 35, spaced from the end edge 32 andremote from the end edge 33. Extending in substantial parallelism fromthe end edge 33, and also paralleling and spaced from the side edges 31,are two slots 36 which divide the sheet, adjacent this. last-named rearedge 33 into three parts, i.e., two tongues 38 and the front portion 37of the head rest D and is contacted by the back of the user of thedevice. The portion 37 is disposed in the sheet 30 between the twotongues 38 which subsequently form bridge means between the frontportion of the head rest D and is contacted by the back of the user ofthe device.

Spaced inwardly from the central curved portion of the edge 32 is acurved score or fold line 39 which extends transversely of the sheet andsubstantially parallels the curved portion of the edge 32.

At the bases of the tongue portions 38 are score or fold lines 41 sothat the tongues may be folded over thereon, as will be subsequentlydescribed. Extending from the intermediate portion of each of the slots36 is a relatively short slot 42, being normal to the slots 36, forpurposes later detailed.

Corresponding to the two head rest back portions 17 of the head rest A,are the two head rest leg portions 43 which are enlarged at their freeend parts 44 to provide seat back contacting parts, since theymay befolded over on their elongated score or fold lines 46 to formsubstantially Vs in transverse section. The end parts of the outermostof the portions 43 extend into tabs 47 and have diagonally-disposed foldor score lines 48 for cooperation with parts of two tongues 50 to benext described.

The two tongues 50, defined in part by the outer parts of the edge 32and an edge 51 substantially paralleling that edge, but preferably withreduced free ends 52, have fold or score lines 53 extending from theedge 32 to the line 39 and are adapted to have their free ends 52 tuckedinto the slots 35.

Substantially paralleling the inner ends of the edges 51 are edges 54and the outer portions thereof, together with edges 55, extendingdiagonally therefrom. Together with a short edge 56, they define flangeportions 57 which are foldable on the fold or score lines 58 (whichsubstantially parallel the adjacent edges 55 and divide the flange 57from the wing portions 63).

Extending from the inner ends of the slots 36 to the inner ends of theedges 54 are fold or score lines 60 and these, together with the line 39and edge 61, opposite the edge 32, define an area or portion whichconstitutes the front of the head rest and may contain indicia 62..

In setting up the head rest D, the sheet 30 may be folded along thelines 60 and 46 to position the wing portions 63 facing each other, thenfolded on the lines 41 to position the tongues 38 substantiallyhorizontal and overlapping, with the free end portion of one tongueinterlocked with the free end portion of the other tongue by means ofthe slots 42 (one being oifset from the other, as shown in FIGURE 7),thus providing bridge means between the front portion of the head rest Dand the leg portions 43 to contact the upper edge of the seat back. Thefolding of the head rest leg portions 43 uponv the lines 46 will causethe portions 47 to extend along the inner faces of the wing portions 63first folded over. The tongues 50 are now folded over along the outerfaces of the wing portions 63, with the free end portions52' of thetongues 50 tucked through the slots 34 and 35 so that these free endportions will overlay the portions 47 and retain them against the innerfaces of the wing portions 63. Finally, the flanges 57 are folded alongthe fold lines 58 to position them substantially normal to the wingportions and this tends to "also retain the portions 47 in place, sincethe lines 48 will contact the lines- 58.

In both forms of the invent-ion, the head rest preferably comprises asingle sheet of inexpensive pliable fibrous material which is not,however, intended primarly as cushioning means but means which isadapted to conform to the back of the user and the back of the seat, inorder to provide a secure head rest, while the uppermost portion of thefolded sheet, above the portion which conforms to the back of the user,merges into this last-named portion and provides the head-contactingportion at the curved edges formed by the score or fold lines 19 or 39,as the case may be.

The head rests may be printed upon, transported, stacked and sold orgiven away to be subsequently set up by the user or another.

Various changes in thesize, shape and arrangement of parts may be madeto the forms of invention herein shown and described, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. A portable head rest of self-sustaining fibrous material for a seatback having a front face, a back face and an upper edge, said head restincluding an upwardly-extending front sheet portion, a head-contactingsheet portion merging into the upper part of the front sheet portion,legs disposed to the rear of the front sheet portion, and manuallyfoldable bridge means connecting the front portion, intermediate theheight thereof, and said legs at the upper ends of said legs and formingsubstantially a right angle with said front sheet portion and said legs,whereby said front sheet portion may contact the front face of a seatback, said legs may extend along the back face of said seat back andsaid bridge means may be disposed in face contact with and upon theupper edge of said seat back.

2. A portable head rest according to claim 1 characterized in that saidfront sheet portion is provided with a pair of spaced-aparttransversely-extending slots and said bridge means is a tongue extendingforwardly with an intermediate portion thereof disposed in one of saidslots and the first next adjacent intermediate portion thereof extendingover a portion of the front face of said front sheet portion, the secondnext adjacent intermediate portion thereof extending through the otherof said slots and the free end portion of said tongue extending awayfrom said front sheet portion.

3. A portable head rest according to claim 2 characterized in that saidhead-contacting sheet portion is provided with a head contacting curvededge and a curved edge spaced from said first curved edge, the curves ofsaid edges closely approaching each other at the longitudinal axis ofsaid head rest, whereby said head-contacting sheet portion isstrengthened by the relative positions of said edges against the weightof the head of a user of said head rest.

4. A portable head rest of self-sustaining fibrous material for a seatback having a front face, a back face and an upper edge, said head restincluding an upwardlyextending front sheet portion; a head-contactingsheet portion merging into the upper part of the front sheet portion,and provided with a pair of tongues having main portions and tabs at thefree ends thereof; two wing portions extending rearwardly from saidfront portion in spacedapart facing relationship, one with the other,and each provided with a horizontal slot; legs disposed to the rear ofthe front sheet portion and each provided with a tab extendingdiagonally forwardly therefrom and in face contact with the inner facesof said wing portions and extending to positions immediately below theslots of said wing portions; with said main portions of said tonguesextending over the outer faces of said wing portions and the tabsthereof extending through said slots of said wing portions and over andin contact with the tabs of said legs immediately below the slots ofsaid Wing portions; and manuaJly-foldable bridge means connecting saidfront sheet portion, intermediate the height thereof, and said legs atthe upper ends of said legs, comprising two other tongues, each providedwith a slot extending from the intermediate portion of an edge of thetongue thereof, with said other tongues interlocked at the slot of eachtongue thereof, whereby said front sheet portion may contact the frontface of a seat back, said legs may extend along the back face of saidseat back and said bridge means may be disposed in face contact with andupon the upper edge of said seat back.

5. A portable head rest of self-sustaining fibrous material for a seatback having a front face, a back face and an upper edge, said head restincluding an upwardly-extending front sheet portion; a head-contactingsheet portion merging into the upper part of the front sheet portion,and provided with a pair of tongues having main portions and tabs at thefree ends thereof; two wing portions extending rearwardly from saidfront portion in spaced-apart facing relationship, one with the other,and each provided with a horizontal slot, and inwardly extending flangesat the upper ends of said head-contacting sheet portion; legs disposedto the rear of the front sheet portion and each provided with a tabextending diagonally forwardly therefrom and in face contact with theinner faces of said wing portions and extending to positions immediatelybelow the slots of said wing portions; with said main portions of saidtongues extending over the outer faces of said Wing portions and thetabs thereof extending through said slots of said wing portions and overand in contact with the tabs of said legs immediately below the slots ofsaid wing portions; and manually foldable bridge means connecting saidfront sheet portion, intermediate the height thereof, and said legs atthe upper ends of said legs, comprising two other tongues, each providedwith a slot extending from the intermediate portion of an edge of thetongue thereof, with said other tongues interlocked at the slot of eachtongue thereof, portions of said flanges of said Wing portions being incontact with said legs at the tabs thereof, whereby said front sheetportion may contact the front face of a seat back, said legs may extendalong the back face of said seat back and said bridge means may bedisposed in face contact with an upon the upper edge of said seat back.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,652,326 Pollock Dec. 13, 1927 2,884,991 Bloomquist May 5, 19592,916,236 Cross et al Dec. 8, 1959

